Pope Leo XIV has called for a renewed understanding of power as a responsibility ordered to the common good, warning against its concentration in economic, technological, and political spheres.
In a message dated April 9, 2026, to participants in the plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Pope addressed the theme of “The Uses of Power: Legitimacy, Democracy and the Rewriting of the International Order.”
Leo expressed gratitude to Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the academy, and to Sister Helen Alford, its president, noting the timeliness of the topic amid “a moment of profound global change.”
The Pope emphasized that, in Catholic social teaching, power “is not an end in itself,” but a means directed toward the common good. He added that the legitimacy of authority depends on “the wisdom and virtue with which it is exercised,” rather than on economic or technological strength.
He pointed to the role of moral virtues in public life, highlighting justice and fortitude as essential for sound decision-making, and temperance as a safeguard against the abuse of power.
Turning to political systems, Leo affirmed the value of democracy, citing John Paul II, who described it as a system that enables participation and accountability. At the same time, he warned that democracy must remain rooted in the moral law and a correct understanding of the human person. Without that foundation, he said, democracy risks becoming “a majoritarian tyranny” or a system dominated by economic and technological elites.
The Pope also addressed the international order, noting that current geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances are reshaping global relations. A just and stable order, he said, cannot be based solely on a balance of power or on technocratic approaches. He warned that the concentration of technological, economic, and military power “in a few hands” poses a threat to both democratic participation and international harmony.
Leo reiterated calls made by his predecessors, including John XXIII and Benedict XVI, for updated global institutions and forms of authority guided by the principle of subsidiarity. He also referenced Pope Francis, who urged the development of “a better kind of politics” oriented toward the common good.
In the final section of the message, the Pope turned to the theme of peace, invoking Augustine of Hippo’s definition of peace as tranquillitas ordinis -- the tranquility of order. He added that Christian faith offers a vision of power shaped by mercy and forgiveness, drawing on the teaching of Thomas Aquinas.
The Pontiff concluded by expressing hope that the academy’s work would contribute to “a global culture of reconciliation and peace,” describing peace not simply as the absence of conflict, but as “the fruit of justice” grounded in authority placed at the service of every person.
The three-day plenary session of the academy is concluding this April 16.
